Publication Details
Abstract
The global discourse on gender equality has increasingly highlighted the critical role of women in politics and international diplomacy, yet disparities in representation persist across regions. While some countries have advanced women’s inclusion in foreign policy, Turkey, Uzbekistan, and Kazakhstan remain underexplored in feminist international relations despite their strategic geopolitical significance and evolving sociopolitical landscapes. Existing research often emphasizes women’s domestic political participation but overlooks their representation and visibility in international diplomacy within these regions. This study aims to examine women’s roles in international politics across Turkey, Uzbekistan, and Kazakhstan, assessing the extent of participation, institutional frameworks, and cultural barriers shaping their diplomatic presence. Findings indicate that Turkey has made notable progress, with women comprising 42% of ambassadors by 2023, supported by institutional reforms and multilateral engagement. In contrast, Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan, despite implementing gender quotas in parliaments (27–32%), show limited female visibility in diplomacy, suggesting a disconnect between legislative inclusion and actual international representation. By providing a comparative, region-specific analysis grounded in feminist international relations, this study highlights the divergence between domestic political gains and international diplomatic underrepresentation, offering new insights into structural and cultural dynamics influencing gender parity. The research underscores that legal reforms alone are insufficient; transformative gender equality in diplomacy requires institutional culture change, mentorship, visibility initiatives, and regional cooperation to normalize women’s leadership in international politics.